Locking-clamp.



i P. J. BERNARD.

I LOOKING CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27,1908.

Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

Tn: NORRIS Prsks m, qusm uarorv. D.

' cago, in the county of Cook and State of and operation, the same being adapted to PETER J; BERNARD, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. I

LOCKING-CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

Application filed February 27, 1968. Serial No. 418,100.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER J. BERNARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chi- Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locking-Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

The locking clamp of the present invention is adapted primarily to grip and impinge the rods or bars of loose leaf filing systems or other devices in which it is desirable to employ suitable means for readily and positively securing a locking clamp upon the smooth periphery of the rods or bars.

It is the primary object of my invention to construct a locking clamp in such manner that it will be positive and effective in use securely grip and impinge the smooth, even periphery of the rods or bars of the device.

A further object of my invention is .to make the locking clamp of such simple construction that the same may be easily fas tened and unfastened without the use of keys or other accessories which are now extensively used.

The invention consists in the features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top or plan view of my improved locking clamp as applied to a loose leaf ledger or book of ordinary construction; Fig. 2 an enlarged top or plan view of the locking clamp in locked position; Fig. 3 a similar view to Fig. 2, showing the locking clamp in unlocked position; Fig. 4 an inner side elevation of the locking clamp; Fig. 5, a front elevation of the looking clamp secured to a rod or bar of a loose leaf ledger or book; Fig. 6 a perspective view of the slotted supporting late of the locking clamp mechanism; and ig. 7 a perspective view of the movable clamp member.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the locking clamp is used in connection with a loose leaf ledger or book having covers 8 adapted to closely fit about companion guide rods or bars 9 over which the ends of the various leaves of the book or filing system may be inserted.

The locking clamp consists, essentially, of a supporting plate 10provided with a longitudinal slot 11 on one of its sides, as indicated in Fig. 6, said slot being adapted to receive therein a movable clamp member 12, as in Fig. 7. This movable clamp member 12 comprises a forwardly enlarged end or 16 inserted through threaded openings 17 in i said supporting plate. The screw 16, which is inserted into the threaded opening 17 on the slotted side of the supporting plate, also pierces and engages an opening 18 in the movable clamp member 12, thus providing suitable pivotal means for permitting the movable clamp member to swing back and forth in fixed relation with respect to the supporting plate.

In order that the movable clamp member may positively engage and impinge the rods or bars 9 of the device, it will be understood that the movable clamp member is eccentrically mounted,'as shown in the drawings.

A suitable locking member 19, made of iano wire or other strong resilient material, liaving its inner end 20 looped or otherwise secured about the screw 16 on the supporting plate, is bent forwardly a distance suflicient to embrace the rods or bars 9 of the device, as at 21, and then bent rearwardly, as at 22, finally terminating in an end loop 23. The movable locking member 19 is ada ted 'to engage the recess or undercut 15 o the movable clamp member 12 when the latter is in its forward position, as in Fig. 2, the

same effectively locking and clamping the rods or bars 9 of the device or filing system.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that when the movable clamp memer is in its extreme forward position, as in Fig. 2, the same grips and impinges the rods or bars; and when the movable locking member is held in' the position indicated in Fig. 2, its outer end being held in the recess or undercut 15 of the movable clamp member, an efiective and perfect locking means is provided.

The device, as a whole, is of extreme simplicity and at the same time is thoroughly efiective and reliable in use and operation; for, as will be seen, the greater the strain or lateral play im osed thereon, the tighter and firmerwill the ocking means clamp and impinge itself about the rods or bars of the device.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A locking clamp provided with a slotted supporting plate, a clamp mem e'r movable 5 Within the supporting plate having its outer end upturned and recessed, and a movable locking member adapted at its inner end to embrace a rod or bar and at its outer end to engage the recessed upturned end of the rod. or bar, a slotted supporting plate, a movable clamp member having its outer end upturned and recessed, and a movable locking member adapted to embrace the rod or bar and have its outer end fixedly retained in the recess of the movable clamp member, substantially as described.

PETER J. BERNARD.

ll itnesses:

WALKER Barnum, lnLvlN E. (zn'rrrmn. 

